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Animal Health Trust Research
Funded By Home of Rest for Horses
The Animal Health Trust has received £147,000 from the Home of Rest for Horses to fund a project investigating a possible genetic link to Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO) in horses.
Horses with this severe inflammatory airway disease are more commonly middle aged or elderly. They frequently cough and are exercise intolerant due to increased mucus production and narrowing of the airways. Stabled horses are more likely to suffer from RAO as they inhale dust from hay and stable bedding. Careful management is then necessary as the animal becomes hypersensitive to airborne particles. In severe cases corticosteroids are prescribed to limit inflammation.
This project will investigate the possibility that RAO could be an inherited condition. If the main genes that predispose horses towards RAO can be identified, diagnostic tests to identify susceptible individuals could be developed. This would enable preventative measures to be taken with young horses which are more likely to develop RAO as they mature. Based on these tests, at-risk breeding could be identified and the frequency of this restricting condition could be reduced.
Paul Jepson, chief executive at the home said: "This is a very exciting project. To eliminate the problem by investigating the genetic mapping of RAO will potentially benefit the horse population worldwide."
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